#5 Living in New York City

Once upon a time, a very wise woman said, "...you only get one great love, then New York may just be mine...and I can't have nobody talkin' shit about my boyfriend." Carrie Bradshaw was onto something with this. In this crazy, confusing world New York has always been my dependable, "go-to", "fall back", feel good place. When I'm walking those streets, I'm so sure about EVERYTHING in my life. If you ever want to persuade me to do something you want, make sure I'm not in the 212. Your chance of winning greatly decreases.


Moving into my Astoria apartment was the fruition of a 22 year dream. Okay, maybe like a 17 year dream, since I don't know that NYC was on my radar before the age of 5. Twenty-two years old and I was ready to take on the world. (Aren't all 22 year olds?) After spending an eventful summer in Westport, I secured a job at Lincoln Center--THE center of the arts world. Working in the same office as Wynton Marsalis? YES, sign me up. In the end, he didn't come to the office much, but I am saving the bottle of Christal I managed to get from him. (That's a whole other story and I should probably thank G & I...and W's distaste for Christal. Hehe.) 


So what if I had to live in a borough? I commuted to the Island every day--hell or high water. Literally, high water. I can't help but remember the warm fall day when some of the subways flooded. It took my roommate (who happens to be one of my oldest and dearest friends) and I about 2 or 3 hours to get to work. The commute was normally 40 minutes. Thankfully, we had each other in those moments we got stuck--my absolute biggest fear during those 2 years of my life. What could be worse than having to pee and being stuck in the subway? If you figure out an answer, let me know!


I could write for days about the people with whom I worked. They epitomize the professional ideal. It was them who taught me how to work, how to be professional, how to be efficient, how to be personable and how to have fun with my co-workers. I attribute every professional success I have to them. Invaluable life skills. Nowadays, I find myself frustrated because I don't find the same sense of professionalism in education, as a whole. I guess Jazz music attracts dynamic professionals. Whatever it was, I would pay to have them back in my life on a regular basis. 


I wanted to be a part of it, so I dove into NYC and swam. Frank Sinatra sang it best, "If I can make it there/I can make it anywhere." I made it there. Sometimes I want to leave everything behind and go back. I want to get lost on the city streets. I want to sit in Central Park and make up fake stories about the passersby. I want to stand in line at Magnolia, like a tourist, and get a vanilla cupcake with pink buttercream icing. I want to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for pizza. I want to eat brunch, with a mimosa included, for $14.95. I want to purchase an unlimited MetroCard. I want to randomly get free tickets to sit in the 10th row at the newest Broadway show. I want to avoid the crowds at Times Square and 5th Avenue. I want to mosey around Bleecker Street Records. I want to buy my dad coffee at the Porto Rico exchange. I want to drink warm beer and eat dirty water dogs under the B Train before a Yankees game. I want to trudge through a foot of snow in Central Park. I want to smell roasted chestnuts in December.

In the end, my boyfriend and I had an embattled relationship. I had and still have so many expectations for NYC, much like my high expectations for people. I was let down. When it didn't give me what I wanted, I got angry. How do you live day-by-day with something that has been built up for so long? That's the question that lingered. It's just another place to live to be honest. Living there didn't mean I no longer had to clean my apartment or go grocery shopping. Granted, I utilized Fresh Direct, so the groceries were delivered to my door exactly when I requested them. At the ripe, young age of 22, I wanted the Friends lifestyle.

New York City is great. I would move back in a heartbeat, BUT with a whole different set of expectations. It's just another place to live. I would take advantage of that expectation, but never forget that it's one of the greatest places in the world. New York is my boyfriend...I don't want anyone talkin' shit on him...


These are a few of my favorite things...

 I was honored to be a part of the Frederick P. Rose Hall opening in October 2004. 

I think if you look hard enough you can see Carrie breaking Aidan heart. Most of the time I worked here, the Circle was under construction. It's such a sight to behold every time I see it now.

 The bakery that started the cupcake craze! It's the perfect combination of flavors and consistencies. K and I tried to recreate these once, even followed a recipe, but we might have destroyed a kitchen instead. 

 They've even upgraded the boxes...

 My favorite.

 A and I stumbled upon this one random evening. The salads tasted like home--the dressing from our grade school spaghetti dinners. Monte's won our hearts and I still make visits. 

I think a co-worker in Westport told me about the Corner Bistro, and somehow it just became my favorite bar. I'm sure the cheap beer and burgers had something to do with it.

 New York's drug store...you're not a New Yorker, if you go to CVS. Plain and simple. This one in Penn Station was a regular stop for when I was traveling in and out of town.